CHIP: What is it? Who is eligible? What is included?

CHIP: What is it? Who is eligible? What is included?

Despite the existence of the Medicaid program, millions of children in low-income families remained uninsured due in large part to the high cost of health coverage. So in 1997, with bi-partisan support, Congress created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to sit on the shoulders of Medicaid for children in families with incomes higher than the Medicaid eligibility, but who couldn’t afford private insurance. More than half the states now cover children up to 250 percent of poverty, with one state going up to 400 percent.